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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Has anyone heard the phrase "the beatings will continue until morale improves"? Well it seems as though that has become the Roanoke Fire-EMS Vision Statement.

If indeed our management is handed down by our City Manager and Assistant City Manager, then would it be safe to say we could save a lot of money by replacing certain people with monkeys and a lifetime supply of bananas?

How long will our fake smiles we put on in public last? Numerous of us are unhappy with a lot of what is going on, even if some people only say it is 5%. Then again, how can you believe those statistics if other statistics given to Council members were way off base?

What is the answer? I don't know at this point. There have been numerous people begging for a vote of no confidence for some of our staff, but will that sink in or not?

You know what amazes me? That we the firefighters are still able to provide the best EMS care, Fire Suppression, and public service considering our circumstances.

I will be the first one sitting at the meeting of the labor/management committee that our Tri-Data report called for.

It would be nice if City Council took off their blinders and started running the City and supporting mandates and initiatives for our City Management to carry out.

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If you want to write for the Roanoke Fire Blog, simply email your post in word form to me at FireFleitz@cox.net and I will post it. If you want to post it anonymously, I will honor your wishes.

Fitchner had a worker's comp injury and wasn't able to return to work due to the injury. His case has been in the works for months. He wasn't "Let go", it is my understanding that he went on disability due to the injury. And this wasn't a case where he milked it to go on disability like most of our frequent customers, he really is hurt and will be suffering for the rest of his life.

As for Chris, he is just a mess in general. But I haven't heard of an injury to cause him to have to leave work.

No, Chris didn't have an injury that would cause him to leave work. That's the problem ain't it? He passed out on duty, and the doctors can't figure out why-along with that comes the inability to guarantee that it will never happen again. Seems to me, this is a high risk job. Seems to me, not everyone can to this job. Seems to me that if your doc clears ya to come back to work, you've passed the fit for duty test, then hell-You ought to be able to come back! Nope! Reckon they feel it's too much liability. Reckon also they forgot that once you're a seizure patient, you're always a seizure patient. Ain't havin another seizure on duty while riding shotgun to a fire and you ain't even legal to drive a car in the good ol' state of virginia purty damn liable? Hmmm..... Ps-just so you all know-I just thought that since they believe we were a bunch of dumbasses we may as well start acting like it.

Chris is a good guy who never took any of downtowns bullshit. If that nimrod of a chief had ever been in a hot fire before, he might know what it’s like. I’m so fuckin pissed off, where does a secretary of EMS get off taking a firemen out of service for doing his job. It’s time for a walk out or a vote to rid this city of these parasites that think their royalty. Hoback , come on out to rookie school and take a group in the burn building. Just a few years ago hoback was down at 3 wanting to ride the sit for experience, and then all of a sudden he is chief, what twilight zone world is this. Its bad enough we put up with their total incompetence, but now he is making decisions for people on the rest of their career. Everybody, understand!!! You may think this does not affect you but you’re wrong, if they get away with this then nobody’s jobs safe.

Well what do you think? Time for a no confidence vote? Rhett, could you explain the procedure for such an event? What are the steps? Is it presented to the union, or the city? Could you do a post on this subject, or a post about other dept's that have done the same? Thanks.

I think all you have to do is make a motion and get it approved and the President of the local has to carry it through. Recently, the Nashville Union had an 88% vote of "No Confidence" in their Chief.Although the vote was symbolic and the Chief won't be fired, the mayor said the vote sends a message that can't be ignored. That is what we need to do now.Don't wait on our union officers to push it through. They shouldn't. We need to do this.

I have more faith that wall street and congress are out to help the middle class, then I do in our administration having the smallest amount of concern or care for its employ's. (perhaps the chief needs to stay in a holiday inn express.)

Knowing nothing about either man, and if what is posted here is true then.

The one with injury and on disability had nothing to do with his departure. That was likely driven by the workers compensation company. And if he's physically unable to fulfill his job description because of a work related injury then he will be compensated (albeit less monety) financially for this.

The one who "passed out" or had a seizure at work again can't fulfill the job description. As someone pointed out a seizure patient can not hold a driver's license in the Virginia until it's proven that they've been seizure free for one year then they must submit a doctors letter to that effect.

This brings me to the conclusion that you are all complaining that Hoback (I agree) isn't qualified to do his job then it doesn't sound like these guys are physically able to perform their jobs. It sounds like an HR department nightmare.

Out of curiosity, what good does a "vote of no confidence" do? Does your union have any power? No, it's Virginia - unions are pretty much glorified pep squads.

WHAT ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTER THAT HAD THE HEART ATTACK. HE IS BACK AT WORK? WHATS TO SAY THAT HE WONT HAVE ANOTHER ONE, WHEN HE IS FIGHTING FIRE AND ANOTHER FIREFIGHER NEEDS HIS HELP TO GET OUT OF A BURNING BUILDING.

OK first off. The guy who asked about the seizure and the passing out. They are two different individuals. Guys the laws regarding operating a motor vehicle in Virginia are as you have said in black and white crystal clear, it is 6 months seizure free before you can re-obtain an operator's license. NOT A FULL YEAR. Altman did have a portion of his skull removed, it was replaced for a short time with a plastic piece, it has since been restored and certified by a physician to be as strong as it was prior to his brain issues. His coming back to work is a matter of the FMLA rules that were circulated around a while back stating that any injury on or off duty is subject to recall for light duty in administration. His job is in administration; his only recourse was to return to work. He is no different than us; he would rather be at home watching midget wrestling than here.

Might I remind everyone that there were 34 individuals that came into this department with the merger (I am not one of them) and not all of them are receiving special privileges. In fact a select few are.

Let’s not stab Scooter in the back while fighting over someone else. Scott passed his fit for duty tests and did so with flying colors. Chris’ issues are plenty and he is prone to injury and illness. Is it his fault? Who knows, but he shouldn’t loss his job because of it. He passed the entry exam and rookie school without getting hurt (almost, he broke his ankle while running the steps at the stadium). Any employee cannot be fired for a medical condition that presents itself during their tenure with a company. Period! IF Chris was fired then there has to be an alternative issue at hand. The Chief would not take an action like that and place him and the department into a liable stance without a pretty damn good protection plan. I am sure the lawyers have been over the release papers with a fine-toothed comb.

Not having a driver’s license isn’t in itself a reason to fire an employee of the fire department even though our contracts say we must maintain a valid and clear operator’s permit. This can be over looked in the instance of a medical condition, which Chief Altman had. He had a seizure as a side effect of his brain surgery, the old man’s gourd is fine now, and he has his permit back. To function in his job he did not need it, having someone drive him around was merely an inconvenience. I am not one of Altman’s friends, nor am I a chest thumper for administration. I merely like to view both sides of an issue and make my mind up for myself and not read what the popular vote is on here and jump on a bandwagon.

There is a likelihood of any of us having a seizure or passing out at any given time. This is the nature of the human race; we have complex and unpredictable bodies that take a great deal of maintenance and care to function. The individuals at the center of this conversation each have their own fight to engage. Let them fight their own fights and maintain yourself. The lawyers and doctors have the case in their hands and it is nothing we need to be involved in.

To quote the suck ass who posted above referring to Altman, "His job is in administration; his only recourse was to return to work"

Then why is he out here riding the officers seat on an Engine? That isn't an administrative job last time I checked.

Oh and by the way if your keeping score, that day he and our illustrious chief were out playing fireman, they burnt one to the ground! In all my years of service I have never seen a bulldozer come and tear a house down while fire crews were still on scene.

But hey, you go ahead and stick up fot them, maybe you will get promoted.

Not trying to get off subject here (as if there is a consistent subject with this post) but Rhett is full of SH*T. He once said that anyone who signs in with a google/blogger account can post what they wish and it will ALWAYS get posted. Just want you readers out there to know that he is full of you know what. He cherry-picks what gets posted on this blog and not all opinions are conveyed.

I hate to have to tell some people here something that should be obvious....

This is Rhett's blog. He can post whatever he wants here. He is the owner, and the moderator. If you post a reply that might be considered slanderous, libelous, or offensive, Rhett is well within his right not to post it. You must also take into consideration that these blogs sometimes will malfunction, and a post might be lost.

Either way, Rhett has the final say-so on this blog. If anyone has a problem with it, you can always make and maintain your own blog. Then, you can post whatever you want.

You are absolutely correct, I said that if you signed up as a blogger username I would post anything you commented on. However, I did not realize how childish you were going to be on some of your comments. As you can see I posted the comments where you called me full of shit, but I will not post your childish banter that has not reason to be on this blog, therefore I suggest you grow up and continue to be productive in your posting.

I love it!! I havent laughed out loud at one of these posts in a long time. I can see Self Dispatcher now slaming his/her fist on the desk, all red faced and teary eyed cussing Rhett cause some of his childish and negative comments werent posted. Hey have you ever thought if you grew up and posted something that was half way constructive and "grown up" it might get posted? If you hate Rhett and the blog that much stop looking at it. Its your right. Way to go Rhett.

About the Author

Rhett Fleitz is a Lieutenant with the Roanoke Fire-EMS Department in the City of Roanoke, Virginia. He is the Secretary/Treasurer of the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local #1132. Rhett is currently continuing historical research and data collection after the Late Captain Wiseman. In 2006, he completed his first book, "Firefighting in Roanoke", a pictorial look at the history of the Fire Service in the City of Roanoke.

"Firefighting in Roanoke" is available online or you can purchase it in Roanoke at The Roanoke Antique Mall, The Transportation Museum, or the Williamson Road Pharmacy.

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